To demand the immediate removal of encroachments on temples and their lands, a resolution was passed during the Maharashtra Mandir Nyas Parishad (Maharashtra Temple Trust Council) in Shirdi by over 1,000 trustees of various temples to conduct ‘Collective Aarti’ every week. Accordingly, the first ‘Collective Aarti’ of the state was enthusiastically conducted in a devotional atmosphere at the Shree Vaishnav Maruti Temple in Solapur, as informed by the National Organiser of the Mandir Mahasangh, Mr. Sunil Ghanwat.
The event, organized jointly by the Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh and Shree Vaishnav Maruti Temple, was held at the Shree Vaishnav Maruti Temple in the Junne Gharakul area of Solapur. Key attendees included National Organiser Mr. Sunil Ghanwat, Temple President Mr. Bhaskar Raul, Trustees Mr. Deepak Pardeshi, Mr. Narayan Dubhashi, Mr. Ramakrishna Sunchu, Mr. Srinivas Kottayam, President of Shree Ganesh Mandir Mr. Venugopal Myana, Priest of Shree Chowdeshwari Temple Mr. Govardhan Myakal, Member of Padmashali Purohit Sanghatana Mr. Venkatesh Jilla, Pujari of Shree Parameshwari Temple Mr. Vitthal Pandhare, Hindutva Advocate Mr. Vijay Ippakayal, Mr. Dhanyakumar Chinde, Mr. Vinod Rasal from Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, Mr. Sanket Pisal from Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, Mr. Gaurishankar Kalshetti, Mr. Dhananjay Bokde, and Mr. Balraj Dontul, along with a large number of devotees.
The third Maharashtra Mandir Nyas Parishad held on December 24 and 25 at Sai Palakhi Nivara, Nimgaon, Shirdi, was attended by over 875 invited trustees, representatives, priests, lawyers, and researchers advocating temple preservation. Key resolutions included conducting ‘Collective Aarti’ weekly to oppose temple land encroachments, fast-tracking court cases regarding the holy cities of Kashi and Mathura, urging the government to free all temples in Maharashtra from state control, ensuring temple donations are not used for government development projects, declaring temple premises as ‘alcohol and meat-free zones,’ and providing monthly stipends to temple priests. Mr. Ghanwat has urged the government to fulfill these demands promptly.
